Lamp-dimmer



G. w. RAY AND w. v. HARRINGTON.

LAMP DIMMER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1919.

G. W. RAY AND W. V. HARRINGTON.

' LAMP DIMMER.

APPLICAHON FILED MAY 8,1919. 1,335,918. Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2. 4

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

GEORGE W. RAY AN'D WILLIAM V. HARRINGTON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA; SAID RAY ASSIGNOR T'O SAID HARRINGTON.

LAMP-DIMMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

' Application filed May 8, 1919. Serial No. 295,676.

and WILLIAM V. HARRINGTON, citizens of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Dimmers; and.

we do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to dimmers for vehicle headlights and the like; and has for its object to combine the dimmers with the lenses and arrange the same so as to deflect the upwardly projecting rays of light from the lamps, to prevent glare, and direct said rays onto the road, which, to ether with the rays of light passing under t e dimmers, throws a light, strength of the lamps, upon the road where the same is needed. K

To the above end the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and' defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of an automobile headlight having one of the 001m bined lenses and dimmers incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is a. view principally in vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevationof the combined lens and dimmer removed from the headlight;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4, but showing modified means for securing the dimmer to the lens.

Of the parts of the automobile headlight illustrated it is important to note the casing 6, reflector 7, lamp bulb 8 and lens 9. The

dimmer comprises a plurality of thin translucent horizontal slats 10, having non-lustrous surfaces and are preferably made from a non-metallic lightabsorbing material, such as a soft white wood left in its natural state without polish or finish.

The slats .10 are secured to the back of substantially the full the lens 9 in oblique positions and vertically spaced equal distances apart, with the lower longitudinal edge of one slat in substantially the same horizontal plane with the upper longitudinal edge of the adjacent slat. The lower longitudinal edges of the slats 10 engage or substantially engage the back of the lens 9 and incline rearward therefrom, preferably at angles of substantially 28 degrees I to the plane of the lens.

As one means for securing the 'slats 10 to the lens 9 there is cast or otherwise formed on the back of said lens, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, two diametrically opposite segmental ribs 11 having oblique slots or seats 12 in which the ends of said slats are mounted. The lower ends of the ribs 11 terminate in a horizontal plane slightly below the .axle ofthe lens 9 and the upper endsthereof almost meet at'the top of the lens. These ribs 11 are located sufliciently inward of the edge of the lens 9 to clear the reflector 7 and are concentric therewith. By referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the slats 10 extend from the top of the reflector to a point substantially equal to the width As previously stated, the dimmer will deflect the greater portion of the upwardly projecting rays of light from the headlight onto the road and a portion of said light will be absorbed by the slats of the dimmer and diffused thereby. Owing to the nature of the dimmer slats, no glare will be imparted thereby and the light passing therethrough will be of a very soft character.

By forming the slat holding means with the lens, said slats are securely held against vibration with respect to the lens, and, as said slats are supported only at their ends from the lens, no vertical obstructions to the lens are necessary to connect said slats. The combined lens and dimmer is very neat and compact in appearance and said dimmer remains in the same relation to the lens, at all times, thusmaking the applic'a tion of the lens and dimmer to the casing extremely simple.

What We claim is lights and the like, comprising a plurality 1. A combined lens and dimmer for headof translucent slats that are oblique,to the lights and the like, comprising a plurality plane of the lens, and ribs integrally formed 15 of slats that are oblique to the plane of the with the lens and having seats in which the I 5 lens, and seats integrally formed with the ends of the slats are mounted;

lens for holding the slats. In testimony whereof we aflix our signa- 2. A combined lens and dimmer for headtures in presence of two witnesses. lights and the like, comprising a plurality GEORGE WV. RAY or translucent slats that are oblique to the WILLIAM V. HARRINGTON. 10 plane of the lens, and seats integrally WVitnesses:

formed with the lens for holding the slats. EVA E. K6NIG,

3. A combined lens and dimmer for head- HARRY D. KILGORE. 

